Shock as FIBA Europe President Rafnsson Dies on Visit to Geneva for House of Basketball Opening

Basketball - 20 Jun 2013 - The international basketball community has been left “shocked and saddened” by the sudden death of Olafur Rafnsson, the president of FIBA Europe, the continental governing body for the sport, at the age of 50.

Rafnsson, a former basketball player who was also serving as president of the National Olympic Association of Iceland, died in Geneva, where he had been attending Tuesday’s official opening of the House of Basketball, the new headquarters of FIBA, the international basketball federation.

In a statement, FIBA and FIBA Europe said they “were shocked and saddened to learn on Wednesday evening of the unexpected passing away of FIBA Europe president Olafur Rafnsson, age 50.”

Rafnsson was elected president of FIBA Europe in 2010 and had aimed to be a peacemaker in the often-heated dispute between FIBA Europe and FIBA over changes to the international calendar.

FIBA Europe has expressed opposition to switching EuroBasket, the biennial European championships, from a two-year to a four-year cycle, moving the FIBA Basketball World Cup (previously the FIBA World Championship) to the year before the Olympics and expanding the flagship event from 24 to 32 teams.

However, Rafnsson had adopted a conciliatory approach, calling on FIBA Europe members to “be the leading force in the world towards uniting basketball, not dividing it.”

It was announced this morning that tributes will be paid to Rafnsson at the EuroBasket Women competition taking place in France, with a moment of silence before the games in Lille today and tomorrow and flags to be flown at half-mast until the end of the tournament. In addition, the FIBA Europe flag will feature a black ribbon on its top left corner until the event concludes on June 30.

The House of Basketball, which is located in Mies on the outskirts of Geneva, was inaugurated two days ago, on the occasion of FIBA’s 81st birthday, at an event attended by 400 guests, including Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee.

FIBA president Yvan Manini said: “The House of Basketball is more than just FIBA’s headquarters. It is a home for all basketball lovers around the world. The cultural heritage and history of our sport now has a safe place to be preserved and promoted.”